DC man faces multiple animal cruelty charges

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A D.C. man has been arrested after he was indicted on animal cruelty charges last month.

Washington Humane Society officials say Charles Palmer, 35, abused 10 different dogs, three of which have died.Two of the dogs were rescued and rehabilitated by WHS. The location of the five other dogs is unknown.

Palmer wasindicted November 26 by a grand jury on fourteen counts, including five felony counts of Cruelty to Animals and five misdemeanor counts of Cruelty to Animals involving ten different dogs.Palmer is also charged with one count of Assault with Significant Bodily Injury, two counts of Assault, and one count of Destruction of Property.

WHS officials say they first found out about the abuse on April 23, 2012 after receiving a call that Palmer was fighting with his pit bull type dog. Officials say he was seen beating the dog, slamming him to the ground repeatedly, bringing him into the woods, and then exiting the woods with just the leash.

The male pit bull type dog, now named Porter, was found two days later suffering from two broken femurs, a displaced jaw, and missing several teeth following what is presumed to be a history of significant physical abuse, officials said.

Porter was taken to an emergency animal hospital and placed in a foster home with a WHS staff member where he was nursed back to health.

WHS officers say they visited Palmer's house mulitiple times following the first incident. Callers reported seeing Palmer kick, beat and abuse dogs on various occasions.

Roxy, a second surviving dog, was rescued by WHS officers on June 19, 2013. Officials say they found Roxy at Palmer's house with a broken front leg, a broken rear femoral head, a broken rear toe and two lacerations on her head.

After her treatment, Roxy was taken in by a foster family who nursed her back to health and adopted her.

Witnesses have also alleged that the abuse resulted in Palmer killing at least three dogs between February 2011 and June 2013, officials said.

Each of the felony Animal Cruelty charges carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both. Each of the misdemeanor Animal Cruelty charges carries a statutory maximum of 180 days of incarceration and/or financial penalties.